Golf putting game

ABSTRACT

A golf-putting game comprising an elongated playing surface with a teeing area at one end and a plurality of holes disposed in at least two rows, one on each side of, and generally parallel to, the longitudinal centerline of the playing surface, such that the sight angle from the teeing area to the successive holes of any given row is progressively smaller with increasing distance of the holes from said teeing area, in combination, for each hole, with a score-indicating lamp actuated into an on-state upon passage of a first ball through the hole and into an off-state upon passage of a second ball through the hole, whereby the player upon playing the successive holes of a row, experiments increasing difficulty in so doing and runs the risk of cancelling his own score if he plays two balls into a given hole. A ball catcher, containing a deflector, is provided around each hole. The movement of a pivotable baffled ramp located in each hole closes and opens an electrical circuit to control the state of the indicating lamp. Golf balls are returned to the tee area by an inclined alley which cooperates with a discharge outlet in each hole.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edgar Forcier 4155 44th Avenue, Ville St. Michel, Quebec, Canada [2]] Appl. No. 57,686 [22] Filed July 23, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [54] GOLF PUTTING GAME 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-George .I. Marlo Auomev-Pierre Lesperance ABSTRACT: A golf-putting game comprising an elongated playing surface with a teeing area at one end and a plurality of holes disposed in at least two rows, one on each side of. and generally parallel to, the longitudinal centerline of the playing surface. such that the sight angle from the teeing area to the successive holes of any given row is progressively smaller with increasing distance of the holes from said teeing area, in combination. for each hole. with a score indicating lamp actuated into an on-state upon passage of a first ball through the hole and into an off-state upon passage of a second ball through the hole. whereby the player upon playing the successive holes of a row. experiments increasing difficulty in so doing and runs the risk of cancelling his own score if he plays two balls into a given hole. A ball catcher. containing a deflector. is provided around each hole. The movement ota pivotable baffled ramp located in each hole closes and opens an electrical circuit to control the state of the indicating lamp. Golf balls are returned to the tee area by an Inclined alley which cooperates with a discharge outlet in each hole.

AGENT INVENTOR Edgar FORC/ER 8y WM- PATENTED unvao 4971 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEUNUVBOBTI 3.623.731

SHEET 2 UF 2 Fig.4 Fig.5 24 23 INVENTOR AGFN T GOLF PUTTING GAME The present invention relates to a golf-putting game which may be adapted for indoor or outdoor use.

The general object of the present invention resides in the provision of a golf game wherein several holes or cups are arranged in such a manner that each player or group of players must exercise progressively increasing skill in order to score, inasmuch as missing a particular hole may decrease the players score.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a game of the character described, for practicing golf putting and which is played by two players or groups of players and in which one player or group of players may lower the score of the opponents.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a game of the character described, in which a second ball driven into a given hole or cup, will cause cancellation of the score gained on the first ball.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a game of the character described, having simple means for in dicating the score for each hole, said means incorporating a device for cancelling the score upon the drop of a second ball into the hole.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a game of the character described, which is of simpleand inexpensive construction and in which simple means are provided to collect the played balls.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the golf-putting game of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway partial cross section, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is partial longitudinal section, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of the same hole arrangement shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the hole arrangement of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pivotable, double ramp member.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

The game of the invention comprises means providing a playing surface 1, of generally rectangular and elongated shape, at one end of which is formed a teeing area 2 provided on each side with standing areas 3 for a player who is left handed or right handed.

Several playing surfaces 1 may be disposed side by side with intervening alleyways 4, the latter being at a lower level than playing surface 1. Playing surface 1 may consist of natural grass, as shown in FIG. 5, if the game is played outdoor, or of artificial grass supported on a plywood platform above the floor which would then be the bottom of alleyways 4. The playing surface 1 in both cases has sidewalls 6 defining the sides of alleyways 4.

The game is played with conventional putters and golf balls. It is the object of the game to drive the balls into holes or cups, schematically represented at 7. The holes 7 are disposed longitudinally of the playing surface 1 in two rows, one on each side of the longitudinal centerline of playing surface 1, and said centerline extending through the center of teeing area 2.

The two rows of holes 7 are on each side of teeing area 2. These rows of holes are generally parallel to the above-noted centerline, although the more distant holes, relative to area 2, are closer to said centerline. In practice, the holes 7 are disposed near the longitudinal edges of the playing surface 1 and are spaced along said playing surface, to thereby be at progressively increasing distances from teeing area 2. There are preferably nine holes 7 on each side of the playing surface and, in addition, two additional th holes 7' are arranged at the end of the playing surface opposite to teeing area 2 and close to the longitudinal centerline of said playing area. Thus,

it will be realized that the sight angle from the teeing area to the successive holes of any given row, is progressively smaller with increasing distance of the holes from the teeing area. For instance, the angle defined by lines adjoining the eight and ninth holes to the center of the teeing area, is much smaller than the angle defined by the lines joining the first and second holes with the center of the teeing area. This applies for each row of holes. Thus, a player playing one row of holes finds it progressively more difficult to put the ball into a selected hole without accidentally dropping the ball into a neighboring hole.

Advantage is taken of this fact by providing means which cancel the score obtained by the drop of a first ball into a given hole, whenever a second ball is dropped into the same hole.

Each hole is provided with means for detecting the passage of a ball therethrough and a score-indicating means responsive to a first impulse ofthe ball-detecting means to take an on" position and responsive to a second impulse of said ball-detecting means to take an ofP position, thereby cancelling the score upon a second passage of a ball through the same hole.

The holes 7' at the end of the playing surface are each associated with one row of holes 7 to be played by the same player, and because said holes 7' are arranged with the same detecting score indicating means as the holes 7, one player can cancel his opponents score at the hole 7 As indicated before, the hole 7 of the row including the hole 7' on the same side are adapted to be played by one player or group of players, while the holes of the other row are adapted to be played by the opponent or opponents.

Each hole 7 or 7' is preferably square shape, is made through the playing surface I and is in communication with an enlarged passage 8, which has a discharge end 9 opening laterally of the playing surface 1 through the sidewall 6, so that a ball dropped into a hole 7 or 7' will be discharged into the alleyways 4. Obviously, the passage from hole 7 to the alleyway 4 may be downwardly inclined towards the alleyway 4. The latter may also be downwardly inclined towards the teeing area for the automatic return of the balls. The alleyways may be completely covered, if so desired. When open, a person can walk along the alleyways to collect the playing balls and also to collect any ball remaining on the playing surface 1.

Each hole 7 or 7 is associated with ball catching means, which include a boxlike member 10 protruding upwardly from and, surrounding the associated holes 7, said boxlike member 10 having side walls 11 and an inclined back wall 12 and a top wall 13 and with an opening 14 at the front thereof, facing the teeing area.

The ball catching means further include a deflector 15 secured to and extending between the side walls 11 above the hole 7 or 7', near the back wall 12 and curved about a transverse horizontal axis, so that any golf ball B, which is played too fast to drop directly through the hole 7 or 7' into the passage 8 along the ledge 10, will engage the deflector and roll around its concave surface to eventually drop back into the hole 7 or 7'.

The side walls ll are extended downwardly by ears 16 engaging the sides of passage 8 and a double ramp member 17 is pivotally supported between the ears 16 by means of a horizontal pivot rod 18 carried by the ears 16.

The pivot rod 18 is located near the lower edge 19 of the side walls 20 of double ramp member 17, such that the center of gravity of the double ramp member 17 is located above the pivot rod 18.

Member 17 has two equally downwardly inclined ramps 21 supported by the side walls 20, these ramps joining at an apex edge 22. When the ramps are equally inclined with respect to the horizontal, the line joining the center of gravity of the member 17 with the pivot rod 18 is vertical. The two halves of the double ramp member 17, that is on each side of its central vertical plane, are of substantially equal weight, so that the member 17 can take anyone of two stable inclined positions, one of said positions being shown in FIG. 4, wherein an electric contact 23 secured to the underside of the double ramp member 17 at one end thereof, bears against the other electric contact 24 mounted on the bottom 25 of the passage 8. In the other rest position of member 17, its end opposite the contact bearing end rests directly on bottom 25.

The top of each ramp 2] is preferably provided with a baffle system for retarding the movement of a ball down the ramp and for directing the ball towards the discharge end 9 of passage 8 into the alleyway 4.

The baffle system includes a strip 26 running along the apex 22 and disposed on edge, said strip being common to the two ramps. The baffle system further includes a strip 27 for each ramp running downwardly along the back edge thereof with respect to the alleyway 4, the strip 27 terminating short of the outer lower end of the ramp and joined to a transversely downwardly inclined strip 28.

The bafile system further includes a strip 29 shade the edge of the respective ramps nearer the alleyway 4 and is extended by a transversely downwardly inclined strip 30 having a bevelled end 31 directed substantially towards and terminating short of the corner defined by the strips 27 and 28. Thus, a golf ball B dropping onto one or the other of ramps 21, will move down the ramp while being deflected first by strip 30, if it hits the latter, then by strip 29, and, due to the inclination of the latter, will be discharged through the outlet 9 of passage 8. The golf ball B, while moving down the ramp, will cause pivotal movement of the double ramp member 17 from one stable position to the other. The ball will engage one or the other of the two ramps 21, depending on the given inclined position of double ramp member 17.

The top of boxlike member carries a lamp shade 32 housing an electric lamp 33, which is adapted to illuminate a number 35 inscribed on front panel 34, giving the number of points which a player having successively played the associated hole, is entitled to place to his score.

The electric lamp 33 is connected in series with the electric switch defined by contact 23, 24 and the assembly of said switch and electric lamp for each hole 7, 7 is connected in parallel into an electric supply circuit which may be battery fed or fed from a standard electric supply source.

The wire connecting lamp 33 is to the switch 23, 24 is indicated at 36 in the drawings. Obviously, this wire could be made to run inside boxlike member 10, if so desired.

The preferred manner of playing the game of the invention is as follows:

The numbers 35 appearing on the panels 34 are numbered 1 to 10 inclusive on each side of the centerline of the playing area 1, starting from the hole closest to the teeing area 2. The panels 34 on side of the centerline of the playing area will be all colored the same color, which would be different from the panels of the holes on the other side of the centerline.

Two players or two groups of players will play the game, using a putter club and conventional golf balls, each player putting in turn while standing in one or the other of areas 3 and hitting the ball in teeingarea 2. Each player is preferably given 25 balls to play; he tries to enter only oneball into each hole of his row of holes 7, 7'. A perfect score is 55 points. If he, by mistake, sinks two balls in a given hole, his score for that hole is automatically cancelled and he has to play a third ball to restore his score. The players in one team will play the right row and other team will play the left row of holes of the playing surface.

It is noted that it is progressively more difficult to play the holes, not only because they are progressively more distant from the teeing but also because the angle of sight is more restricted and the chances of sinking two balls into a given hole increase with the holes of giving increasing scores.

The players have a chance of cancelling the opponents score at holes 7' which are the holes giving the maximum number of points, namely 10 points.

Obviously, the holes of each row are transversely aligned in pairs relative to the playing areas, so as to. give equal opportunities to each team. The game can be made to be for inside or outside use. The preferred dimensions are a playing surface of 29 feet 6 inches long with a distance of 3 feet between the teeing area and the first holes and 3 feet between the successive holes, except between the ninth and 10th holes which would be 2 feet 6 inches. The lateral distance between a pair of holes of each row is preferably 3% inches for the holes closest to the teeing areaand this distance progressively decreases until catching means or boxlike means 10 is eliminated and the holes 7 or 7' are 24 inches for the ninth holes. The distance between the tenth holes is about 6 inches. The alleyways 4 would be 15 inches wide, so as to permit a person to move along the same and collect the golf balls which have been played. The halls will automatically run out into the alleyway when sunk through the holes. The remaining balls may be easily collected from the playing surface 1.

To make the game more difficult to play, the ball 7' are made circular and are fully exposed at the playing surface 1, so that a player, even when playing the ball in the right direction, may miss the hole if he strikes the ball too hard, as in conventional golf putting. In this case, the ears 16 are secured to the underside of the panel forming the playing surface 1 and the lamp shade 32; lamp 33 and panel 34 are supported in cantilevered fashion over the hole by a post or tube secured to the side of the playing surface 1, out of the way of the balls.

What I claim is:

l. in a golf putting game apparatus, means providing a playing surface of elongated generally rectangular shape with a teeing area at one end and a plurality of holes disposed in at least two rows on each side of the longitudinal centerline of said playing surface and at progressively increasing distances from said teeing area, means for detecting the passage of a ball through each hole, score-indicating means associated with each hole having two stable states and operated from one state to the other upon the associated score-detecting means detecting the passage of a ball.

2. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holes of each row are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the playing surface, such that the sight angle from the teeing area to the successive holes of any given row, is progressively smaller with increasing distance of the holes from said teeing area.

3. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim I, further including ball catching means over and around each hole and having a ball-receiving opening facing said teeing area.

4. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 3, wherein said catching means comprise a boxlike member and a deflector in said member facing said opening, said deflector curved about a horizontal axis and disposed over said hole to deflect a fast ball back into said hole.

5. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 4, wherein said score-indicating means include an electric lamp mounted on top of said boxlike member and a numbered panel in front of said lamp.

6. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball-detecting means include a double ramp member located in said hole and pivoted vertically below its center of gravity for movement between two inclined stable positions with is apex on one or the other side of the vertical plane passing through its pivot axis, so that one or the other of the ramps of said double ramp member is in a position to receive a ball passing through said hole, and an electric switch actuated by said double ramp member when the latter moves into and out of only one of its two stable positions, said electric switch adapted to close and open an electric circuit feeding said score-indicating means.

7. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 6, further including baffle means upstanding from the ramps of said double ramp member to deflect and retard the movement of a ball on said ramps.

8. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 7, wherein said holes have a discharge end opening laterally of and below said playing surface, said baffle means arranged to direct the ball on a ramp through said discharge end. 

1. In a golf putting game apparatus, means providing a playing surface of elongated generally rectangular shape with a teeing area at one end and a plurality of holes disposed in at least two rows on each side of the longitudinal centerline of said playing surface and at progressively increasing distances from said teeing area, means for detecting the passage of a ball Through each hole, score-indicating means associated with each hole having two stable states and operated from one state to the other upon the associated score-detecting means detecting the passage of a ball.
 2. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holes of each row are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the playing surface, such that the sight angle from the teeing area to the successive holes of any given row, is progressively smaller with increasing distance of the holes from said teeing area.
 3. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 1, further including ball catching means over and around each hole and having a ball-receiving opening facing said teeing area.
 4. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 3, wherein said catching means comprise a boxlike member and a deflector in said member facing said opening, said deflector curved about a horizontal axis and disposed over said hole to deflect a fast ball back into said hole.
 5. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 4, wherein said score-indicating means include an electric lamp mounted on top of said boxlike member and a numbered panel in front of said lamp.
 6. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball-detecting means include a double ramp member located in said hole and pivoted vertically below its center of gravity for movement between two inclined stable positions with is apex on one or the other side of the vertical plane passing through its pivot axis, so that one or the other of the ramps of said double ramp member is in a position to receive a ball passing through said hole, and an electric switch actuated by said double ramp member when the latter moves into and out of only one of its two stable positions, said electric switch adapted to close and open an electric circuit feeding said score-indicating means.
 7. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 6, further including baffle means upstanding from the ramps of said double ramp member to deflect and retard the movement of a ball on said ramps.
 8. In a golf putting game as claimed in claim 7, wherein said holes have a discharge end opening laterally of and below said playing surface, said baffle means arranged to direct the ball on a ramp through said discharge end. 